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8B Daily News – Monday, September 19, 2011 To draw visitors, small town pumps up western theme MIAMI (MCT) — Davie, Fla., is a place where riding your horse to the local McDonalds is a way of life. But with more than 40,000 students from near- by universities now bustling through the town, Mayor Judy Paul says residents are looking for some excite- ment. "The people I talk to are waiting for something to happen on Davie Road," Paul said. "We're looking at ways to capitalize on the number of students that travel through our town." Davie, home to Nova Southeastern University, also has campuses of Flori- da Atlantic University, Broward College, Universi- ty of Florida and Trinity International University within its borders. "We want to create an ambiance of a college town," Paul said. "We want a little bit of the old and a lit- tle bit of the new." To help better serve its growing population of almost 92,000 residents, the town's vision of its future includes building a multi- purpose project bordering University Drive and Inter- state 595, and building a student housing project with commercial and retail space on an 11-acre lot at the cor- ner of Davie and Griffin roads. Already, Davie is updat- ing its downtown to accom- modate the influx of visitors — and horses. The town's Community Redevelop- ment Agency has given money to help with renova- tions at the Flashback Diner and Dellaventura's Pizzeria. Across the street from the vacant Winn Dixie lot, Flashback Diner has become a hub for local traf- fic since owner Toula Amanna bought the old Lum's restaurant in 2009 and spent more than $800,000 on renovations. She used CRA money for portions of her outside patio, parking lot and even MCT photo Thomas Bertorelli, right, and Toula Amanna show a photo of how their Flashback Diner looked before a makeover to a western theme in Davie, Fla. installed a hitching post for those residents who come via horseback. "I tell other business To share more than features of the place we call "Home" … Instead, the experiences of enjoying them. owners that renovations will raise their sales 30 percent," she said. "The moment we opened the door, we had a line." Ty Ernst, who has owned Dellaventura's since 2006, said he hopes to reel in the college crowd rather than seeing Davie Road used as a shortcut to the Interstate. "I want my restaurant to be an environment where people want to come and eat, not just a place they drive by going 65 mph cut- ting through downtown," Ernst said. CRA funds have paid for a new rear parking lot, an outside dining area, land- scaping and sewer upgrades. Ernst plans to spend money on new interi- or upgrades, large umbrellas for the patio and outdoor Saturday, October 22, 2011 "Holiday Fantasy" Floral Design Program & Luncheon Red Bluff Garden Club Presents Carlino's, Rolling Hills Casino Featuring Kate Gliem House of Design Designs for the Holiday Season Vendors – Silent Auction Raffle – Live Auction Kathy, 527-9403 – Diane, 824-5661 House of Design, 527-8844 California Kitchen, 529-2482 Reserved Tickets $25.00 Purchase by October 12, 2011 Tickets: misting fans, as well. "I think the outside patio will enhance downtown, create more traffic and make downtown more peo- ple-friendly," he said. "It's progressing, but moving slow." Priscilla Tindall, a Davie resident for almost 50 years, said as businesses have moved west out to Universi- ty Drive, the downtown area has been left dead. "We need to do some- thing in the Davie Road center that will get more people to come into town," she said. "I think we could retain our western look. It doesn't have to be all mod- ern." Renovating properties within the town's western- themed district comes with its own set of challenges. Ernst said the western theme's guidelines for light- ing and signage make it dif- ficult to attract clientele. "The signage can only be backlit with no neon," he said. "In a downtown area, you need that." Will Allen of the CRA noted there are special con- ditions for building design, signage, lighting, fencing and landscaping for busi- nesses in the downtown area that runs along Davie Road, but that hasn't stopped developers from wanting to do projects in Davie. The town's western theme has its advantages, Allen said. "There are fewer require- ments for open space than anywhere else in the town and there are provisions that allow shared parking and less parking than would normally be required," Allen said. Kerry Soave, a Davie resident since 1975, said he remembers when there were more horses than cars making their way down Orange Drive. "I'm not a big fan of change, but what are you going to do?" Soave said while sipping his coffee at Flashback Diner. "Old Davie versus new Davie is the problem, but I think we can keep the western theme and still bring in more activ- ity." Fall To Spring Edition: Published Oct. 21, 2011